Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Prepare to breed with a dog
• Method 2 of 5: Giving health care to a pregnant dog
• Method 3 of 5: Feeding a pregnant dog
• Method 4 of 5: Exercise a pregnant dog
• Method 5 of 5: Provide a whelping box
• Tips
• Warnings

Taking good care of a pregnant dog is essential to a successful breeding process. Complete care during the gestation period, which can be from 55 to 72 days, as well as proper preparation for labor are key. Before your dog gives birth to her puppies, she needs a pleasant, clean, and quiet environment, a good diet and regular exercise, and proper medical care. Before you know it, you'll be all set for delivery and raising brand new puppies!

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Method 1 of 5: Prepare to breed with a dog

1. Make sure your dog is a good candidate for breeding. Many canine diseases can be passed on from a mother dog to her puppies. Have your vet examine your dog before breeding her to minimize the risk of passing a hereditary disease to the puppies. Hereditary diseases can affect bones, joints, heart, teeth, skin, blood cells, kidneys, liver, nervous system (brain and spine), digestive system, reproductive organs and the immune system. Some common examples are hip dysplasia, allergies, cryptorchidism and hernias. Certain breeds have an increased risk of hereditary conditions.
   • Think about your dog's (and male's) personality and behavior. A number of scientific studies show that aggression can be hereditary. It is best to breed with friendly dogs that have no aggressive tendencies.
2. Feed your dog a high quality dog ​​food. In the Netherlands there is no quality mark or certification for dog food, but there are legal guidelines that it must comply with. Feeding your dog a high quality food prior to pregnancy can improve her health and that of her puppies.
3. Know the facts before breeding. While puppies are very cute, they also require a lot of time, attention and cleaning. Puppies generally stay with their mothers for 8 weeks after birth, longer if you cannot find a new home for them. Raising multiple puppies will take a lot of your time and energy, not to mention the cost.
   • If your dog is experiencing difficulties during labor, emergency assistance from a veterinarian will be necessary. Caesarean sections can be very expensive, so be prepared and set aside money for an emergency.
4. Consider adopting a shelter dog instead of breeding it. There is an overpopulation problem of dogs in the Netherlands, which means that there are more dogs than there are families for them. According to Dutch Cell Dogs, 75,000 dogs are brought to the shelter in the Netherlands every year.
   • For every puppy that your dog gets, one less dog can be placed from the shelter.

Method 2 of 5: Giving health care to a pregnant dog

1. Get your dog well groomed before birth. Your dog must be vaccinated before she becomes pregnant. This will protect both your dog and your dog's puppies. Newborn puppies are at an increased risk of serious (and even fatal) illness if their mother is not vaccinated.
   • Most experts advise against vaccinating pregnant dogs, so vaccinations should be given before then.
   • Get your dog dewormed. Internal parasites (such as roundworms and hookworms) can be passed from mother to puppy. Your dog's vet will prescribe an appropriate medication that will protect both your dog and her puppies.
   • Have your vet perform a heartworm test and initiate appropriate heartworm prevention. Heartworm microfilaria can be transmitted from a dog to its unborn puppies through the placenta.
2. If you think your dog may be pregnant, see your vet. Your vet can help you confirm the pregnancy, determine the due date, discuss possible changes in medication and even estimate the number of puppies to be expected. Your vet can also help you determine if your dog is pseudo-pregnant, a condition where she looks like she's pregnant, acting pregnant, but it's not.
   • Ultrasounds can show puppy embryos after approximately three weeks of pregnancy. Your vet may be able to feel the puppies in your dog's belly after 20-30 days of pregnancy. Unborn puppies can be seen on X-rays after 45 days (5 weeks) of gestation.
   • Your vet will count the fetal skeletons to determine the number of puppies to be expected. This way you can know if all puppies are out when your dog gives birth. If you are expecting 6 puppies, but only 4 were born, then you know you need to take your dog to the emergency clinic.
3. Talk to your vet about ALL medications and treatments you are giving your dog. Some medications can be dangerous to the unborn puppies and can cause birth defects and even death. For example, veterinarians will usually recommend that you continue your monthly heartworm treatment as usual, but talk to your vet to be sure.
   • Talk to your vet about your dog's flea and tick treatments and her risk for these parasites. Your vet will recommend a suitable product if treatment is required. Examples of products your vet may recommend for your pregnant dog include FrontlineⓇ Plus Topspot (but not FrontlineⓇ Spray), RevolutionⓇ, ProgramⓇ, and CapstarⓇ.
   • Your vet may recommend a wormer for the final stages of your dog's pregnancy. Fenbendazole is usually considered safe for pregnant dogs and fights worms that can be passed on from the dog to her puppies.
   • Do not give over-the-counter medications, treatments, or supplements to your dog without asking your vet if they are safe during pregnancy.
   • Do not give your pregnant dog any vaccinations. Talk to your vet about vaccinations if your dog is pregnant and is behind on her vaccinations.
   • If your dog is on long-term medication for a chronic illness, talk to your vet right away to determine whether you should continue or stop taking the medication.
4. Make sure you know where the nearest animal emergency clinic is located. This should be a 24 hour clinic, not your normal vet. It is better to be prepared for an emergency, in case your dog is going to give birth in the evening and there are serious complications.

Method 3 of 5: Feeding a pregnant dog

1. Check the label on the food you are feeding your dog. Make sure the food is of a high quality. In the Netherlands there is no quality mark or certification for dog food, but there are legal guidelines that it must comply with.
2. Feed a normal amount of a quality branded dog food for the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. Commercial brands of dog food can be purchased at pet stores and supermarkets. These foods usually contain all the necessary nutrients in the correct amounts and proportions.
   • Homemade foods often do not contain the correct ratio of the necessary nutrients and should be avoided.
3. Switch to a quality puppy food during the 5th and 6th weeks of pregnancy. At this point in the pregnancy, your dog will have higher nutritional needs. Puppy food contains higher amounts of protein, fat, energy and minerals.
   • At this point, you should also increase the amount you are feeding your dog by 20-25%.
   • Do not feed a variant large breed dog food or puppy food, even if you have a large breed. These foods usually do not contain enough energy or calcium for a pregnant dog.
4. Increase the amount you feed your dog another 25% during the 8th and 9th weeks, until the end of her pregnancy. At this point, your dog will eat 50% more than she did before pregnancy. For example, if your dog ate 2 cups of food twice a day before she was pregnant, she will now need 6 cups of food per day by the end of her pregnancy.
   • Because the puppies will press on her stomach, she will not be able to eat that much food in one meal. Dividing her food over more and smaller meals will ensure that she gets all the nutrients she needs. Some dogs need to be “free-fed” by this time, meaning their food is ready for them throughout the day so they can eat when needed.
5. Do not supplement your dog's food with vitamins, minerals or meat unless recommended by the vet. You may think that extra calcium is needed, and some incorrect websites even recommend that, but don't give your dog extra calcium. Extra calcium can affect your dog's internal ability to regulate calcium and put your dog at risk for a life-threatening dip in calcium (called eclampsia).
   • Adding meat to your dog's food can cause her to eat fewer carbohydrates and reduce her energy intake.

Method 4 of 5: Exercise a pregnant dog

1. Do not over exercise your pregnant dog. This is especially important after the 6th week of pregnancy. Allow her to rest for as long as she needs to as pregnancy can be exhausting.
   • If you have a working dog, talk to your vet about an appropriate exercise plan.
2. Continue with daily walks. Daily walks are a great low-intensity exercise for your pregnant dog. Most dogs can take daily walks throughout their pregnancy.
   • Choose a suitable time of the day depending on the weather (e.g. early morning in summer, or afternoon in winter).
   • If you regularly run your dog before she became pregnant, she can continue to do so for the first 4-6 weeks of her pregnancy. However, after the 6th week, you should stop running and go for a daily walk.
3. Keep your dog away from other dogs during the last three weeks of pregnancy and the first three weeks after birth. This means that you should avoid taking her to the dog park or on trails in your area where many dogs come. This will help protect her from contagious diseases that can cause serious harm to both her and the puppies.
   • Pregnant dogs and dogs with young puppies can also have behavioral changes. Your dog can become aggressive towards other dogs if she thinks they are threatening her puppies.

Method 5 of 5: Provide a whelping box

1. Buy or make a whelping box. The whelping box will serve as a safe place or shelter for your dog to give birth to her puppies. It consists of a soft cushion surrounded by relatively high walls. You can make one out of plywood or sturdy plastic, or you can buy a container.
   • The whelping box should be large enough for your dog to lie completely stretched out and also provide space for all puppies.
   • The walls of the box should be high enough to prevent the puppies from climbing out when they are 6 weeks old, but low enough that their mother can get out if she wants to.
   • The walls must be sturdy and secure enough that they will not fall over and crush the puppies.
   • If you don't provide a crate, your dog can choose a less desirable location for itself.
2. Make the crate comfortable for your dog and her puppies. Cover the bottom of the box with towels. Replace and wash towels regularly after the puppies are born. Both the delivery and the puppies can make a mess, so keep that in mind.
   • Covering the bottom with newspaper is not recommended as it is neither soft nor warm and can transfer newspaper ink to the puppies' coat.
   • Keep the bottom of the box at around 24 degrees Celsius by using low wattage light bulbs. For the safety of your dog and the puppies, make sure that the floor does not get too cold or too hot.
3. Place the chest in a familiar and secluded place. You will need to be able to reach the area regularly to help your dog, but it should be kept away from distractions and other pets. Allow your dog to access her whelping box at least 1-2 weeks before giving birth. This will help her get comfortable with the chest when it comes time to cast.

Tips

• Smaller dog breeds usually have smaller litters, while larger breeds often have more puppies. Large breed dogs have an average of 8-12 puppies in a litter, while dwarf breeds may have only 1-4 puppies.
• The length of pregnancy (gestation period) for dogs is 63 days. However, your dog can actually be pregnant for 55-72 days from day one.
• A healthy weight gain during pregnancy is an increase of only 10-15%. For example, a dog of 10 kilos should not gain more than 1-1.5 kilos. However, pregnancy is not the right time to put your dog on a diet. Talk to your vet if you have any questions about your dog's weight.

Warnings

• Stop using fleas and ticks if your vet recommends! Sometimes they are not good for pregnant dogs!
• If your dog needs help contact your vet as soon as possible, don't try to help yourself unless you know what you are doing.